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Monthly Archives: September 2014

Danish heavy metal singer King Diamond has revealed to Full Metal Jackie that a comprehensive “best-of” collection from his namesake band will be made available on November 11 via Metal Blade Records.

The musician, who is also working on a new studio album from KING DIAMOND, says: “Metal Blade got the chance, through getting some of licenses from Roadrunner — well, Roadrunner is under Warner — so they got some licenses from them to actually release some vinyl of the old Roadrunner stuff, but also to do a best-of [collection]. And that’s something that’s coming out, a genuine best-of that is spanning the entire KING DIAMOND career. So there is one disc that is only Roadrunner material, one disc that is Metal Blade, but it’s [being] released through Metal Blade, the whole thing. And it sounds amazing.”

He added: “We went back to before all the remastering that was done on our stuff and got back to the original stuff and could tweak that. And you hear things that you… If you [got into the band] later on, you could only buy certain versions of the albums these days. And they don’t all sound the way I would like [them] to sound. And now we got the chance to actually select the songs ourselves, me and Andy, and we worked on them hardcore with this new gear to get them as optimal as possible. And they sound very close to how they originally sounded. You will hear things you can’t hear on the versions you can buy today.”

Regarding his plans for a new KING DIAMOND LP, the vocalist said: “We signed a new deal with Metal Blade for another three albums. We have done a lot of stuff lately with that in mind. We have invested a lot of the new recording budgets for the next couple of albums into making Andy La Rocque‘s, the guitarist’s studio in Sweden, better. We got new equipment in, I got a new vocal studio here in my house. It was finished a few days before I went over to Europe recently and I actually managed to rehearse in it, which was great. But it’s Pro Tools, new speakers, it’s a vocal booth from Portland, Oregon — VocalBooth.com. I got it in with the floating floor, the whole thing; it’s amazing. The speakers are also handbuilt in the U.S., in Portland, Oregon, by Barefoot. It was actually a KING DIAMOND fan that was part of putting mine together. So I got a small pair, which is still twelve hundred and some watts between the amps in them, in my studio room and then some bigger ones in my living room. I didn’t know music could sound like that. They are for mixing and mastering and everything — handmade in the U.S.A. And I didn’t think they could sound like that. I’m still blown away by it.”

King, 58, whose real name is Kim Bendix Petersen, underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery in November 2010. He has since completed his cardiac rehabilitation program and has stopped smoking entirely, changed his diet and is getting regular exercise.

KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the “Best Metal Performance” category for the track “Never Ending Hill” off the group’s latest album, “Give Me Your Soul … Please”.

“Give Me Your Soul … Please” sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Guitarist Jim Root says that he is still unsure as to why he was fired from STONE SOUR, claiming that he “hasn’t talked to certain guys” in the band to get more insight about his departure from the group.

Root and SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor much of the last four years recording and touring behind three full STONE SOUR studio records, including 2010’s “Audio Secrecy” and the double concept album “House Of Gold & Bones”.

Root was dismissed from STONE SOUR at the end of last year — even as he and Taylor were working together on a new SLIPKNOT album. Root told Australia’s Music Feeds: “I still haven’t talked to certain guys in that band [STONE SOUR], so I really don’t know what they were thinking or a hundred percent of the reason why they made the decision that they made. I mean, it was basically put to me over a phone call and I thought that was pretty lame. Whatever, it is what it is. Onward and upward. I think I have a little bit of a different opinion on how music should be done anyway. Maybe it is for the better.”

Jim recently told Revolver magazine that “it became apparent to me near the end of the album cycle for ‘House Of Gold & Bones’ that it had basically run its course. But the band kept pushing for more dates, and I was just, like, ‘It’s time to stop!'”

He continued, “SLIPKNOT made it possible for STONE SOUR to have everything that it has and there were people in SLIPKNOT that have been sitting idly waiting to do a new album. And I had fans asking me every day, ‘When are you doing SLIPKNOT?'”

Root told The Pulse Of Radio when he first revealed that he was sitting out the last STONE SOUR tour — before it was announced that he was let go — that he was already dealing with a lot of stress juggling the two bands. “You know, unfortunately I’m only one person,” he said. “I can’t really be in two places at one time and the amount of focus that I need to put into SLIPKNOT makes it really difficult for me to be on tour with STONE SOUR. It’s crushing and it’s heartbreaking and I really don’t like the idea of not being out there, but I don’t really see any other way to really do it.”

Root said that he was dismissed from STONE SOUR in November 2013, revealing, “I was mad because STONE SOUR wanted to go do a tour and they didn’t want me to be a part of it. So I had a little anger, and I had a little bit of depression. I was kind of hurt. But at the same time, it was probably all for the better, because I wasn’t really happy in that band anymore.”

Taylor addressed the issue as well, saying, “It was difficult, at first. It put a strain between he and I for a little bit. It was one of those things where the timing just sucked. But at the same time, we knew that, on both sides, we’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do.”

Taylor added that working together on the new SLIPKNOT album actually helped mend fences between him and Root, explaining, “We were able to kind of channel that and put it into what we were making, which I think in a lot of ways helped the overall aggression and emotion really get there.”

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH will enter the studio on November 24 to begin recording their new album, tentatively titled “Hammer Of The Witches”, for an early 2015 release.

During a recent interview with the “Bleedin’ Loud” podcast, CRADLE OF FILTH vocalist Dani “Filth” Davey confirmed the band’s split with guitarist Paul Allender and spoke about the group’s plans for the new CD.

“Paul Allender has left [CRADLE OF FILTH] — which not everybody is aware of,” Dani said. “We weren’t planning on it, because it was the kind of thing that has been, kind of, brewing for the last year or so. Not so much on a personal level, but [him] living in America [in Minnesota] and then him doing his side project [WHITE EMPRESS] and getting kind of lost in that. I know I’ve got [my own side projects] DEVILMENT and, dare I say, TEMPLE OF THE BLACK MOON, but it never really came between CRADLE; I always found time to do it. For example, the DEVILMENT album, it’ll come out, literally, the mirror’s image of when the CRADLE [album] will come out — [the DEVILMENT album will come out] about autumn, and CRADLE‘s next album will come out spring next year. So the DEVILMENT and [CRADLE] won’t meet anytime soon, so that’s okay.”

Asked about whether CRADLE OF FILTH has found a replacement guitarist for Allender, Filth said: “Well, that’s the thing. We only really had one guitarist for the last two albums; Paul had a very strong opinion about doing that, and we’re a two-guitar band. So that may be one of the things that kind of opened the fissure a bit.”

He continued: “We were doing this [European] tour with BEHEMOTH [earlier in the year] and [Paul] had some personal issues and he couldn’t do it, so we brought a Czech guy called Ashok [of Czech groups ROOT and INNER FEAR] in, who’s friends with Martin [‘Marthus’ Skaroupka], the [CRADLE OF FILTH] drummer, and then an English guy, Richard Shaw [of English acts EMPEROR CHUNG and NG26], who lives in Derbyshire, and we thought, ‘Well, that’s cool, ’cause he’s an English guy.’ And it was such a great tour and everybody got on so well, and these two other guys knew the band inside out, so when we started writing, which we were doing on the road — not out of necessity, but just ’cause we could — it just all came together, and it was, like, ‘Wow! This is great.’… Everybody was, like, really, ‘Yes! That was such a great tour.’ [It was] a bit short — it was only three weeks long — so when we came back [home], I was, like, ‘Wow, we should usually just be halfway through the tour by this point.’ So being that invigorated, everybody just started writing, which has brought the album forward by a whole year. Which will please some, and annoy others.”

As of late June, CRADLE OF FILTH‘s new lineup had “about eight [new] tracks” in various states of completion for the follow-up to 2012’s “The Manticore And Other Horrors”, and “it’s sounding awesome,” according to Dani. He previously said some of the new material is comparable to that of ‘Dusk… And Her Embrace’ [1996], ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ [1998] and ‘Midian’ [2000], albeit with a fresher sound.” He added: “I can’t define it exactly, as it incorporates a wide variety of styles and dark emotions as one would come to expect from a CRADLE record. One thing is certain, though: this next release is going to be pushing the boundaries of what the band can achieve, and with forthcoming live shows peppering the writing process, I know this album is going to be fuelled by 101% metal fury!”

CRADLE OF FILTH‘s tenth studio album, “The Manticore And Other Horrors”, sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 96 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band’s previous full-length effort, “Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa”, opened with 5,800 units in November 2010 to land at No. 99.

FOZZY — the band featuring WWE wrestling superstar Chris Jericho alongside members of STUCK MOJO — has announced the addition of bassist Jeff Rouse to the group’s ranks. According to a press release, “Jeff is an incredible musician and singer who has spent the last decade playing in DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED and is also the lead singer and guitar player in THE GUESSING GAME. After former bassist Paul DiLeo amicably and mutually parted ways with FOZZY last May, Jeff stepped in and immediately injected his amazing musicianship and electrifying stage presence into FOZZY‘s already critically acclaimed live show.”

“I’m stoked to have been asked to join FOZZY and to hit the road to support ‘Do You Wanna Start A War’! Can’t wait to see everyone out there!” Rouse said.

FOZZY guitarist and main songwriter Rich Ward added: “The first time I saw Jeff play with DUFF MCKAGAN’S LOADED, it was immediately apparent that I was watching a special talent. He’s a pocket player with killer tone and amazing stage presence. One of the few total-package musicians that I have ever known and it’s an honor to call him a bandmate and more importantly, my brother.”

Jericho said: “I’m very excited to welcome Jeff into the band. His attitude, energy, charisma and playing skills instantly make FOZZY a better band and we are looking forward to a long, prosperous and sexy relationship with him!”

Currently in the midst of a successful U.S. run with THEORY OF A DEADMAN, FOZZY will embark on “The Cinderblock Party Tour” in November in support of its new single and title track of its most recent album, “Do You Wanna Start A War”. The trek, which will kick off on November 20 in Flint, Michigan, will feature special guests TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION and SHAMAN’S HARVEST.

FOZZY‘s new album, “Do You Wanna Start A War”, sold around 5,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 54 on the Billboard 200 chart.

FOZZY‘s previous CD, “Sin And Bones”, opened with around 3,400 units in August 2012 to land at No. 143.

The band’s 2010 effort, “Chasing The Grail”, registered a first-week tally of around 2,200 to enter the Heatseekers chart at No. 6.

“Do You Wanna Start A War” was released on July 22 via Century Media. Produced by FOZZY guitarist Rich Ward, the album features 12 tracks, including the debut single, “Lights Go Out”, the title track and the return of the Theremin in “Bad Tattoo”.

Heavy metal legends BLACK SABBATH will begin work on a new studio album in 2015, to be followed by one final tour.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi, who has battled cancer since 2012, recently hinted that the group’s July 4 gig at London’s Hyde Park could have been the band’s last because the touring can be tough on him. But frontman Ozzy Osbourne now says that the group will record another CD next year.

“The whole SABBATH experience this time around was great,” Ozzy tells Metal Hammer magazine. “We all made friends, we didn’t fuck around, we all knew that we had a job to do, and we did it. It was a lot of fun. So we’re going to do one more album, and a final tour.

“Once the dust settled after the last tour, we started discussing the idea, because we were getting asked about it all the time. I said to [wife/manager] Sharon, ‘What’s going on? Because if there’s no more SABBATH, I want to get on with my own thing again,’ and she came back and said, ‘Let me look into it.’ Three weeks later, I asked her about it again, and she said, ‘Oh, I still have to talk to so and so…’ and I said ‘Sharon, I ain’t fucking 21 anymore. If we’re going to do it, I want to do it before I’m 70!’ Time isn’t on our side! So she made the call and came back and said, ‘Yeah, the record company wants another album.’ I believe [producer] Rick Rubin is going to do it with us again.”

No new material has yet been written for what will be SABBATH‘s fourteenth studio album, but Osbourne says that sessions will begin early next year.

“It’ll be sooner rather than later,” the singer says. “Obviously a lot of it is coming down to Tony‘s health, he’s obviously got his cancer treatment, but we’ll get onto it next year. I don’t know if we’ll be writing in England or L.A., but I’ll fly to the fucking moon for it if I have to!”

“13”, the first SABBATH album since 1978 to feature Ozzy, Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, was No. 1 in the U.S., the U.K. and nearly a dozen other countries.

Butler recently said that that the threesome already have a head start on a new record, explaining, “We’ve still got four tracks left over from [’13’]. So maybe we’ll fill in the other four or five tracks and put out another album — if it’s right. We wouldn’t do it just for the sake of it, or the money or whatever. But yeah, maybe.”

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward was on board for the reunion when it was first announced in November 2011, but backed out soon after due to contractual issues.

SABBATH has used Ozzy‘s regular touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE‘s Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on “13”, which came out in June 2013.

Iommi revealed in January of 2012 that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, which is described by the Mayo Clinic as “a cancer of the lymphatic system, the body’s disease-fighting network.” He had to go back to England every six weeks for treatment, forcing him and SABBATH to work around both the treatments and the recovery time needed afterward.

METALLICA, LINKIN PARK and DEFTONES are among the confirmed bands for the inaugural United States edition of the Rock In Rio festival, set to take place on May 8-9, 2015 and May 15-16, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will feature six stages and unique lineups for each of the four days.

The announcement was unveiled as Rio de Janeiro and Las Vegas met in Times Square, the crossroads of the world, with an exciting surprise performance from past Rock In Rio artists John Mayer and SEPULTURA with the French industrial percussion group LES TAMBOURS DU BRONX to celebrate the festival’s 30th anniversary and first U.S. edition in 2015. SEPULTURA and LES TAMBOUR DU BRONX performed in honor of their past Rock in Rio collaboration and guitar hero John Mayer took the stage to bring hits like “No Such Thing” and “Gravity” to the gathered crowd. During the press conference, the organization also launched its Social Project “30 Years, Many Dreams”.

Roberta Medina, executive vice president of Rock In Rio (and daughter of founder Roberto Medina), expanded on Rock In Rio‘s tremendous background by revealing some of outstanding facts around the global festival’s 30-year history. With more than 7.4 million people in 14 editions, more than 1270 artists have performed in 85 days of the event. Over the past editions, more than 148,000 jobs have been created and more than 1 billion people have watched the concerts worldwide. The statistics provided an in-depth look at creating a global giant as it celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new extension in the US.

“From the first Rock in Rio festival in Brazil in 1985 to next year’s anniversary and Las Vegas launch, it’s been an amazing journey with Rock In Rio fans and the artists that have taken part in the festival,” says Roberta Medina. “We’re thrilled to see the construction of our first U.S. City Of Rock and to announce the first artists who will perform in Las Vegas in May 2015.”

METALLICA, LINKIN PARK, TAYLOR SWIFT and NO DOUBT will all perform on the festival’s Main Stage. METALLICA will return to the Rock In Rio stage after six previous performances at the international event. Appearing on the same day as METALLICA, multi-platinum rock group LINKIN PARK are also returning after previous Rock In Rio performances.

In addition, the organization also announced the first names of the lineup for the Sunset Stage: DEFTONES and John Legend. The Sunset Stage has quickly become a phenomenon featuring a lineup filled with special guests and unexpected musical collaborations.

Rock In Rio has joined forces with entertainment giants MGM Resorts International, Cirque du Soleil and Ron Burkle (The Yucaipa Companies) for the festival’s U.S. debut in Las Vegas in May 2015. An alliance founded on a shared commitment to creating innovative entertainment, Rock In Rio, MGM Resorts and Cirque du Soleil will redefine the modern music festival for U.S. audiences with a monumental combination of the biggest names in music and a fully immersive entertainment experience, all housed in a spectacular, custom-made “City Of Rock.”

The permanent open-air concert venue will be located on The Strip near the corner of Sahara Avenue, spread out over 37 acres and have the capacity for 85,000 people per day. It includes six stages, three themed Rock Streets encompassing the culture and music of the U.S., UK and Brazil and a zip line that stretches 64 feet high and 600 feet long in front of Main Stage. The venue also includes a VIP area that can accommodate up to 4000 people; an air-conditioned area with a unique view of the City of Rock and an all-inclusive buffet.

A limited pre-sale for the upcoming Rock In Rio USA festival in Las Vegas in May is now available at rockinrio.com/tickets with general admission weekend passes available for $298 and VIP daily passes available for $498.

To secure your spot for next year’s Rock in Rio USA, visit rockinrio.com/tickets and choose preferred section (General Admission or VIP), then select a delivery method to receive your wristband (either Will Call or UPS Delivery). Shipments start approximately 10 weeks before the event.

DEF LEPPARD has tapped TRIXTER guitarist Steve Brown to fill in for Vivian Campbell while Vivian is undergoing stem-cell treatment in his continuing battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Brown will make his live debut with DEF LEPPARD at the pre-game show at the first of this year’s three NFL International Series games on Sunday, September 28, when the Oakland Raiders host the Miami Dolphins. He will also perform with DEF LEPPARD in Santa Ynez, Rancho Mirage and Temecula in late October and early November.

Campbell — who before joining DEF LEPPARD in 1992 was well known for his work with DIO and WHITESNAKE — went public with his Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis last summer, but announced in November that he was in remission.

The term “remission” means that the symptoms of the cancer have either been eliminated or reduced. When the tumor is completely gone, doctors call it “complete remission.”

However, Campbell revealed earlier in the year that the cancer had returned and he was battling the disease with a new high-tech chemo treatment.

In a message to fans on DEF LEPPARD‘s official web site, Campbell wrote: “While I can’t say that I’m looking forward to the process ahead, I’m very much looking forward to what I feel will be a most successful outcome.

“Next year will be very busy for DEF LEPPARD with a new album and a world tour, and frankly, I don’t think they would sound as loud without me, so I have no intention of letting the team down!”